Compare towns
Buckfield vs Mapleton vs Union vs Hebron
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Buckfield has the youngest population (median age 37.7).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Hebron has the oldest population (median age 43.8).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Buckfield | Mapleton | Union | Hebron |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,403 |
1,884 |
2,663Highest |
1,105Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% ME: +2.6% |
-3.2% ME: +2.6% |
+5.5%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-13.6%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±10.1Lowest 16% below ME |
41.8±6 7% below ME |
41.6±5.3 7% below ME |
43.8±5.1Highest about the ME average |
| Hebron and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.7%±7.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
22.2%±5.1 ME: 18.1% |
24.9%±4 ME: 18.1% |
19.1%±6.2Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Buckfield and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.7%±2.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
18.3%±3.1 ME: 22.4% |
21.4%±3.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
19.5%±1.2 ME: 22.4% |
| Union and Hebron are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.5% ME: 36.2% |
34.3% ME: 36.2% |
34.4%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.6%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.5%±1.5 ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±1.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Mapleton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,917±$41kLowest 4% above ME |
$91,731±$25k 23% above ME |
$80,724±$9k 8% above ME |
$92,550±$19kHighest 24% above ME |
| Hebron and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,700±$18k 23% below ME |
$191,800±$23kLowest 35% below ME |
$267,600±$42kHighest 10% below ME |
$242,300±$26k 18% below ME |
| Union and Hebron are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $521±$33Lowest 54% below ME |
$610±$277 46% below ME |
$1,179±$452Highest 4% above ME |
— |
| Union and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,860 6% below ME |
$1,789Lowest 41% below ME |
$3,276Highest 8% above ME |
$2,323 23% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±55Lowest ME: 48.4% |
16.7%±10.5 ME: 48.4% |
24.6%±19.8Highest ME: 48.4% |
— |
| Union and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
10.2%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9% ME: 74.3% |
79.9%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
85.9% ME: 74.3% |
97.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 6 yrs newer than ME |
1977Lowest same as ME |
1979 2 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 25% above ME |
28 minLowest 13% above ME |
29 min 20% above ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 15.6%±12.5 ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±3.8 ME: 15.9% |
15.9%±5.3Highest ME: 15.9% |
9.9%±4Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Union and Buckfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 10 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | RSU 17/MSAD 17 |
| High school in town | Buckfield Jr-Sr High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.